Determining the correct way to take-off / Land on runaway

[siefex]

Just as the title says. I know this question probably has a simple answer I have overlooked. I do remember reading in the flight manual that you should always land into the wind; however, how do I know which way the wind is blowing when I take-off or land? Also, should you ideally take-off with the wind at your back?

 

To add one more point: when I contact the ATC and they tell me to take-off on "Runaway 14" for instance, how do I determine where "runway 14" exactly is without rolling right up to the base of the runway? What I mean is, I can hit f10 and look at the map to see where I should taxi to get to the runway, but the runway itself is not marked on the map as "runway 14" or anything. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks all.

[KillaALF]

Just as the title says. I know this question probably has a simple answer I have overlooked. I do remember reading in the flight manual that you should always land into the wind; however, how do I know which way the wind is blowing when I take-off or land? Also, should you ideally take-off with the wind at your back?

 

Ideally you should take-off and land into the wind.

 

To add one more point: when I contact the ATC and they tell me to take-off on "Runaway 14" for instance, how do I determine where "runway 14" exactly is without rolling right up to the base of the runway? What I mean is, I can hit f10 and look at the map to see where I should taxi to get to the runway, but the runway itself is not marked on the map as "runway 14" or anything. Any suggestions?

 

The number is the heading, so 14 = 140°

[siefex]

Ideally you should take-off and land into the wind[/Quote]

 

Thanks KillaALF. A follow-up question: how do you determine which way the wind is blowing while in-flight? Also, does DCS allow for the direction of the wind to change during a mission or is it the same as what is stated during the mission briefing?

[airdog]

Thanks KillaALF. A follow-up question: how do you determine which way the wind is blowing while in-flight

I drop a bomb on the desired landing airport air traffic control tower and see which way the smoke blows...that is how I determine wind direction from the air...all other pilots call the Tower who will give them the active runway along with wind direction and speed.

[siefex]

I drop a bomb on the desired landing airport air traffic control tower and see which way the smoke blows...that is how I determine wind direction from the air...all other pilots call the Tower who will give them the active runway along with wind direction and speed.

 

hahaha, thanks Airdog. Somehow, I wonder if your first piece of advice would earn me a "mission incomplete" plus a prompt court-marshall and/or someone who just shoots me after getting out of the cockpit!

 

I will pay attention more to my radio communications with the ATC. I must admit, I find landing to be harder than anything in this game. I can drop bombs all day or start up my aircraft in a few minutes; but landing is where the real skill seems to come in.

 

One more question since we're on the topic of landing...when the ATC radios you your heading and distance to runway when you inform the ATC that you are "inbound," does the "distance to runway" information indicate how far you are currently from the runway when you radio that you are inbound or indicate how far you should be from the runway when you begin your approach?

 

Thanks all!

Edited April 2, 2011 by siefex

[-Ice]

siefex, you'll be surprised to learn that landing this baby is very easy. At least compared to all the combat stuff you're expected to do later!

 

First off, to answer your question, the ATC tells you the heading and distance from where you will start your final approach. Therefore, he is directing you to a point in the air in front of the airfield, once you get there, turn into the airfield for your final. 5nm or so from the airfield, ATC will tell you to contact tower, and when you do, they will clear you to land.

 

Now regarding landing --- the important thing is TO DO IT. Don't worry about the ATC for now, don't worry about wind direction or procedure. Concentrate on getting your bird down nice and easy. I recommend you set yourself up with a practice mission, clear day, 12 noon, no wind, singe A10 on takeoff from runway. Edit your loadout so you're not carrying anything and give yoursefl 50% fuel. Takeoff, fly 10nm out, turn around, come back straight in.

 

I would recommend Bantumi for this since it has both ILS and PAPI lights. Again, don't worry about details just yet, just get your bird down.

[siefex]

siefex, you'll be surprised to learn that landing this baby is very easy. At least compared to all the combat stuff you're expected to do later!

 

First off, to answer your question, the ATC tells you the heading and distance from where you will start your final approach. Therefore, he is directing you to a point in the air in front of the airfield, once you get there, turn into the airfield for your final. 5nm or so from the airfield, ATC will tell you to contact tower, and when you do, they will clear you to land.

 

Now regarding landing --- the important thing is TO DO IT. Don't worry about the ATC for now, don't worry about wind direction or procedure. Concentrate on getting your bird down nice and easy. I recommend you set yourself up with a practice mission, clear day, 12 noon, no wind, singe A10 on takeoff from runway. Edit your loadout so you're not carrying anything and give yoursefl 50% fuel. Takeoff, fly 10nm out, turn around, come back straight in.

 

I would recommend Bantumi for this since it has both ILS and PAPI lights. Again, don't worry about details just yet, just get your bird down.

 

Thanks Ice, that helps a great deal. I will try what you mentioned and see how that goes. I'm sure I will get this down with a little bit of practice. Thanks for the help.

[-Ice]

No worries and enjoy. Once you know how to land the A10 when it's fully functional, then comes the fun part --- landing a damaged A10. One engine landing, belly landing, landing with jus the left and right gear, landing with your tires shot up...

[siefex]

No worries and enjoy. Once you know how to land the A10 when it's fully functional, then comes the fun part --- landing a damaged A10. One engine landing, belly landing, landing with jus the left and right gear, landing with your tires shot up...

 

!!!??? Dude, that will be awesome! Normal landing is boring. I want to land with no landing gear at all! Although, I don't think I"d want to do that in real life, ha!

[-Ice]

Just get the normal landing technique now. Once you start doing missions, you WILL be coming home with dents and holes... if you make it home in the first place :)

[Longbow116]

ok, got one more question or two :)

I usually rotate in spite of TOW at around 135kn and pitch up to max 10degr to hold IAS around 180kn. Thats ok for me.

What im now looking for is a reference to detemine VREF speed at landing.

Anyone any ideas?

 

regards

Longi

[159th_Viper]

What im now looking for is a reference to detemine VREF speed at landing.

 

Depends on airframe configuration (ordinance etc), weather and weight. Anything from 150 knots down to 110 knots usually gets you down without a mandatory trip to the infirmary.

 

Welcome :)

[Warthogger]

ok, got one more question or two :)

I usually rotate in spite of TOW at around 135kn and pitch up to max 10degr to hold IAS around 180kn. Thats ok for me.

What im now looking for is a reference to detemine VREF speed at landing.

Anyone any ideas?

 

regards

Longi

 

In the real A-10, and also in the DCS Sim, you will always fly indexed AOA (angle of attack) speeds on final approach instead of calculating a Vref. The AOA indexer lights are situated on the left frame of the front windscreen and will automatically illuminate when the aircraft in configurated to land (gear, flaps down). The orange 'upwards' pointing chevron light illuminates when the aircraft is configured to land and you are well over the optimum approach AOA airspeed (read, you need to slow down). When both the yellow upwards pointing chevron AND the green circle (doughnut) light are illuminated at the same time, you are slightly faster than optimum approach AOA. Finally, when you are at the correct approach AOA, only the green doughnut light is illuminated.

 

The reverse sequence is true if you are too slow on approach - when both the green doughnut light and the 'downwards' pointing orange chevron are illuminated, you are slight slow on approach. When only the downwards pointing orange chevron is illuminated, you are too slow on your approach speed.

 

So in short, slow down or speed up on final approach until only the green doughnut AOA light is lit, and then hold that airspeed until flaring to land. :smilewink:

[lobo]

Always try to takeoff and land into wind. You will get airborne and land using less runway. If the winds are 140/20 (coming from 140 degrees at 20 knots) you would prefer to land on RWY 14. If the winds are 090/30 RWY 09 would be most directly into wind.

 

Use the CDU for winds aloft info. WAYPT page. There may be times when ATC gives you instructions to a runway and you after checking the wind info on your CDU determine that it may be more prudent to divert to another field where the winds are blowing more directly down the runway.

 

The runways are named based on their magnetic orientation. ie RWY 14 will be pointing 140 degrees. Often when ATC gives you the runway, a quick glance at the HSI will help orientate yourself with the RWY.

[Warthogger]

ok, got one more question or two :)

I usually rotate in spite of TOW at around 135kn and pitch up to max 10degr to hold IAS around 180kn. Thats ok for me.

What im now looking for is a reference to detemine VREF speed at landing.

Anyone any ideas?

 

regards

Longi

 

Here is a takeoff speed reference chart for the A-10:

 

http://www.dcswiki.com/index.php?title=Rotation_and_takeoff_speed_chart_(A-10)